Swimming pool and method for erecting same



Jan. 2, 1962 L. LuccHEsl SWIMMING Poor. AND METHOD FOR ERECTIMG SAME 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1956 SWIMMING Poor. AND METHOD FORERECTING SAME L. LUCCHESI Jan. 2, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec.

III/lll) United dtates @sont 3,015,191 Svi/EMMEN@ PL AND MEETHD FRERECTNG SAME Leo Lucchesi, Chicago, ill. Filed Dec. 27, i956, Ser. No.6343544 o Claims. (til. il-ltltl) This invention relates in general tostorage vessels and in particular to swimming pools and a method forerecting same.

A well known method of constructing an open-type vessel embedded inearth, such as a swimming pool, is to excavate a suitable opening in theearth, erect a shell or mold of suitable material to define a spacebetween the earth and the shell, and pour a form-setting material, suchas cement, into the space. After the poured material has set, the shellis removed and the vessel made ot' the form-setting material is thenavailable for use. This type of construction is time consuming andexpensive with the result that prefabricated swimming pools, which areassembled at the site of installation, are finding a popular following.yPrior to the installa-tion of a prefabricated pool, a suitableexcavation is made in earth, slightly larger than the pool. The pool isthen assembled piece by piece within the excavation. Inasmuch as thepool is supported by the earth and serves essentially as a liner toprevent absorption of water by the earth, it is constructed of thinsheath material, such as metal or plastic material. Therefore, it isimperative that a lirm foundation afforded by earth exist immediatelyadjacent the pool structure, otherwise, the pool, in places ofnon-support, will be stressed beyond the yield point ot the fabricatedmaterial and will deform with possible subsequent rupture. Theconventional type of prefabricated pool usually comprises vertical wallswhich curve inward toward the center ot the pool to form a roundedbottom, the pool having a predominantly iiat bottom in the centralportion thereof. During the installation of the pool within theexcavation, it is relatively simpre to direct proper till adjacent tothe vertical wall sections of the pool to provide a iirm backing, but itis extremely difiicult to obtain proper support underneath the bottom'othe pool, said bottom of the pool supporting practically the entire bodyof the water when filled.

it is the object of this invention to provide a method for installing apool having a tirm and proper foundation thereunder.

Ano-ther object of the invention is to provide a pool which can beassembled easily with proper till undern neath.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for containing uidsin an excavation, said means serving as a liner to prevent absorption ofthe fluid by the excavation and having a bottom portion adapted forfacilitating obtaining a hrm foundation therefor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon the perusai of the specification inconjunction with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a swimming pool having incorporated in thebottom thereof insertable bottom members for facilitating erection;

FlGURl-E 2 is a longitudinal section View of the swim ming pool takenalong the line Z--2 of PEG. l;

FlGURE 3 is a transverse section View of the swimming pool taken alongthe line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FlGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a section of the swimmingpool taken along the line l--t of FIG. 1;

FGURE 5 is a cross section View alor'U the line S-S of FlG. 4 to showthe structure of a joint;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a section of the swimmingpool taken along line tti-6 of PEG. 1 to show the details of assembly;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a joint between twostructure members, taken alo-ng the line '7-7 of FG. 1; and

FlGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view oi a joint between twostructure mem-bers taken along the line g-S of FIG. 1.

in accordance with the teachings of this invention there is provided amethod of erecting a shell-type vessel, such as a swimming pool, in anexcavation in earth. The vessel is erected from prefabricated wallmembers which are assembled together in the excavation in such mannerthat an enclosure is erected having at least one open ing in the bottomthereof presenting an access to the bottom of the excavation. Since itis essential that the erected vessel have a solid foundation to restupon, suitable material is filled into the excavation around theenclosure. To obtain a solid foundation for the bottom of the vessel,material is filled through the opening in the -bottom of the vessel andtamped, and finally, the opening is completed to effect a duid-tightvessel. Essentially, the method of erecting a vessel comprisesinitiating the wall structure and building downward to complete thebottom of the vessel.

Furthermore, in accordance with the teachings of this invention there isprovided a Vessel structure adapted to be erected in an excavation inearth. The vessel is erected from preformed wall members which havecurved sections sloping downward and toward the centrum of the Vessel todefine an opening therebetween adapted to admit an insertable botto-mmember. The members defining the opening have depressed flanges adaptedto support the bottom member at the same level as the surroundingmembers. Suitable means are provided for rigidly securing the members inthe spaced apart relationship to provide the opening which is completedby the bottom members.

if reference be had to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, an opentype vessel 26, suchas a swimming poo-l7 is shown erected in an excavation 28 in earth. Thevessel 26 comprises wall lmembers 3Q specifically designated as fitta,3%, 3de, 3nd, Sile, lty, 3tlg, 30h, Zilli, 30j, tlk and Stil and bottommembers 5d specifically designated as 54a, lb, and 54e.

The bottom members Sila and Selb, called insertable bottom members, areadapted to oe placed centrally in the bottom of the vessel 26 during theiinal stages of erection, as will be described later. The stationarybottom member 5de is disposed centrally in the bottom of the vessel 26and couples together the two bottom members 54o and 54h. The stationarybottom member 54C is permanently attached at two of its opposing sidesto the wall members Suf and 3tlg.

Each wall member 30, such as the wall member 30e, as shown in FiGURES 4and 5 comprises a thin wall 6l) which terminates laterally in a flange62 and forms at top thereof a coaming 64. The flange 62 extends exteriorto the vessel 2d so that a smooth uninterrupted interior surface isobtained within said vessel. Each wall member fr@ has a straight section55, which forms the vertical side of the vessel 26, and a convex oncurved section 56 which slopes downward and toward the bottom centrum ofthe vessel 26. The wall members 3@ are constructed of any suitablematerial, preferably material which does not corrode upon contact withliuids such as water. Furthermore, the material preferably has to beamenable to mold fabrication to obtain desired shapes and contours inthe fabricated structures. For example, the wall members 3i? may beconstructed of several plies of synthetic liber or glass clothimpregnated and combined together with a resinror plastic binder such aspolyester, phenolic or poly- III-*"1"* styrene. The adjoining wallmembers, such as 39e and 36e, 4are secured to each other by bolt-nutassemblies 66 which include washers 68 on both sides of the couplediianges 62 to prevent gouging by said bolt-nut assemblies. Prior tobringing the flanges 62 to mate with each other, a layer of sealingcompound 7@ or resin is spread on the mating surfaces to obtain aliuid-tight joint after the boltnut assemblies 66 are tightened.

The wall member 3011 has an opening 72 in the straight section 55thereof for admitting a sealed lamp 76 connected to an electricalconduit '78 which may be connected to a source of electrical power. Thelamp 76 provides underwater illumination. The wall member Silk has anopening S in its straight section 55, which opening may be connectedthrough a pipe 82 to an overliow drain for maintaining constant thelevel of the water in the vessel 26. The bottom member 54a has anopening 84 adjacent to a screened drain Se which is connected to a drainpipe 88 used for draining the water out of the tank 26.

As was brought out earlier in reference to the method of erection of thevessel, certain bottom members, namely 54a and 'db, are installed duringthe final stage of erection. The wall members Stlb, 30a' and 3detogether with the stationary bottom member 54C define an opening 58atherebetween for admitting the insertable bottom member 54a. Similarly,the wall members 30h, 301' and 30k together with the stationary bottommember 54C define an opening 5817 therebetween for ladmitting theiusertable bottom member Sb.

If reference be had to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the manner of support of thebottom members 54a and 54h is indicated. The wall members 30h and Sti/ctogether with the stationary bottom member 54C have depressed extensions94 adapted to support the insertable bottom members 54a and Sb on thesame level as the abutting wall members. Similarly, the wall members Sd,39e, 30h and 301 have depressed extensions 96 for supporting the bottommembers 54a and Sib. The extensions 96 terminate in vertically disposedflanges 98 which have openings lil@ for admitting studs IGZ adapted tospan across the opening between two oppositely disposed wall members 3d,such as 36d and 30e. The studs 102, nuts 164 and washers 106 serve tomaintain a rigid opening between the oppositely disposed wall members 30so that there will be no outward movement Iaway from the centrum of thevessel 26 when it is filled with water. The insertable bottom members54a and 54h are secured to the depressed lianges 94 and 95 byself-tapping screws i498. The joints between the mating surfaces of thebottom members 54a and 54h and the depressed flanges 94 and 96 arefilled with a sealing compound liti to insure a duid-tight joint. rl`hesealing compound llt) is also used to cover the heads of the screws 168and to effect a smooth covering over the assembly joints to present theappearance of a single continuous surface on the interior of the vessel26. It is to be understood that although only two bottom members 54a andSib have been described in the present embodiment of the invention asbeing insertable in the final stage of erection of the vessel 26,additional bottom members can be made insertable near the end oferection, if it is found to be desirable.

The method of erection of the various structural com ponents comprisingthe vessel 26 will be brieiiy described hereinbelow. The erection iscommenced in an excavation 28 which is larger than the size of theintended vessel 26 to permit freedom of movement during assembly. Theassembly work is usually started at the deep end of the excavation withthe assembly of the wall members 3tlg, iib and Sile by introducing thesealing compound 7@ between the mating surfaces of adjoining flanges d2and drawing them together with bolt-nut assemblies do to eiiectfluid-tight joints. Since the wall members 3i? are fabricated ofcomparatively low density material, some of the assembly work can beperformed outside of the excavation 28 `and then lowered into saidexcavation. For example, the wall members 36j, 30g and the bottom member54C may be assembled exterior to the excavation and then introducedthereafter as an integral unit into the excavation to be coupled withother, already erected members, thus expediting erection of the vessel26. During the time of erection when the wall members 39d and Sile, aswell as Sil/1 and 3th", are disposed opposite each other in theexcavation 2S, studs N2 are inserted through the openings 1li@ in theflanges 93 of said oppositely disposed wall members to provide rigiditybetween the members even though openings 58a and SSI; exist therebetweenfor the admission of the insertable bottom members 54a and 541),respectively.

At the iinal stage of erection, the wall members 30a, 3017, 30C, 36d,Sile, 36j@ 3tlg, Silit, 3oz', Zilli,- Sik and Sill together with thestationary bottom member Stic define a shell-type enclosure having anincomplete bottom presenting the two openings SSa and 5821. Any suitableniaterial such as sand is filled into the excavation Zd adjacent to theexterior of the straight sections 5S and the convex sections 56 of thewall members 39 to provide a solid foundation. The two openings 58a andS311 in the bottom of the vessel 25 which are adapted to receive theinsertable bottom members 54a and 54k, respectively, are utilized forlilling sand under the rounded bottom of the vessel 26 to provide asolid foundation under the lowermost portions of the convex sections 56.Finally, the sand is tamped to proper height in the bottom openings 58aand 5311 to provide a irm support for the insertable bottom members 54aand Sill). Then the bottom members 54a and ftb are placed over thebottom openings, 53a and Stb, respectively, with a sealing compound 1li)between the mating surfaces 'and secured with the screws E03.Thereafter, the sealing compound il@ is applied over the variousassembly joints to conceal the screws and to present a continuoussurface. A cement walk M2 is constructed about the vessel 26 in abuttingrelationship to the coaming 64, said cement walk being `adapted tosupport a ladder M4 introduced into the interior of the vessel 26.

What is claimed is:

l. A prefabricated swimming pool adapted to be assembled in anexcavation, comprising, in combination, a plurality of straight andcurved wall members constructed of low strength material and disposedrigidly in relation to each other to form an open bottom enclosure, someof the straight and curved wall members oppositely disposed to eachother being shorter than the others, said shorter straight and curvedwall members sloping downward and inward toward each other with theiredge portions defining an opening therebetween in the bottom of saidenclosure, said edge portions having depressed extensions whichcooperatively define a bezel, means for maintaining oppositely disposedextensions in a predetermined rigid relation to each other, and adetachable means supported by the depressed extensions and cooperativelydelining with the bezel a fluid-tight bottom enclosure to provide accessunderneath the pool.

2. A swimming pool as claimed in claim l, said meansl for maintainingthe predetermined rigid relation of the flanges comprising elongated rodmembers extending through substantially vertical ange walls of theoppositely disposed edge portions, said rod members having threaded endswith nuts abutting against the iiange walls exteriorly of the bottomenclosure.

3. A prefabricated sectional vessel comprising, in com-l bination aplurality of straight and curved wall members constructed of lowstrength material and positioned sideby-side, some of the straight andcurved wall members oppositely disposed to each other being shorter thanthe others, said straight and curved wall members sloping downward andinward and defining an opening therebetween at the bottom of the vessel,the straight and curved wall members terminating in edge portions havingsubstantially horizontal and substantially vertical flanges, thehorizontal flanges defining therebetween a support for an insertable andremovable bottom member closing said opening, threaded spacing members,individually adjustable, disposed between oppositely facing verticalflanges for maintaining the associated wall members in rigiddisposition, and means for detachably securing the bottom member to thehorizontal flanges to provide a fluidtight seal.

4. A prefabricated swimming pool adapted to be assembled in anexcavation, comprising in combination, a plurality of preformed wallmembers constructed of low strength material and arranged alongside ofeach other, each wall member having a straight and curved section, thewall members having lateral flanges extending outwardly of the wallmembers, means for securing adjacently disposed flanges exteriorly ofthe wall members, said curved sections sloping downward and inwardtoward each other with their lowermost edges defining an openingtherebetween in the bottom of the pool, said edges having depressedportions cooperatively dening therebetween a seat, said depressedportions terminating in substantially vertical anges, rod membersadjustably extending through the anges for maintaining rigidrelationship therebetween, and a removable plate supported by thedepressed portions and cooperatively defining therewith a Huid-tightbottom enclosure but permitting access thereunder.

5. A swimming pool according to claim 4, said preformed wall memberscomprising at least three groups of sections having predeterminedsymmetric relationships, one group forming arcuate corners of the pool,the second group forming transverse and longitudinal sides of the pool,and the third group forming the bottom of the pool, the size of the poolbeing determined by the plurality of the members used in the second andthird groups.

6. A method of assembling a Prefabricated vessel in an excavation, saidvessel being made of material of low strength, comprising the steps ofmaking a rough excavation for substantially containing the vessel,attachably disposing preformed straight and curved wall members adjacenteach other to form substantially a complete enclosure with a smallopening in the bottom thereof rigidifying the opening exteriorly of thewall members to predetermined dimensions, lling material exteriorly ofthe wall members to effect sound foundation therefor, filling materialthrough said opening and tamping said material underneath thebottom-most portions of the wall members, lilling the opening tosubstantially the level of the bottom-most portions of the wall members,and detachably securing a bottom member to the bottom-most portion ofthe wall members to effect a fluid-tight closure of the opening therebyproviding access to the underneath of the bottom of the vessel at alltimes.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS503,913 Rasner Aug. 22, 1893 741,351 Loeb Oct. 31, 1903 1,231,091Straight June 26, 1917 1,637,423 Miller Aug. 2, 1927 2,488,708 ClemetscnNov. 22, 1949 2,617,764 Hauber et al. Nov. 11, 1952 2,662,391 Neil Dec.15, 1953 2,858,693 Levert Nov. 4, 1958 2,864,098 Lorimer Dec. 16, 19582,887,759 Brownell May 26, 1959 FOREiGN PATENTS 560,861 reat Britain1944 OTHER REFERENCES Concrete, pages 24 and 25, January 1950. AmericanBuilder, August 1955, p. 198.

